Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.

As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.

The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.

Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.

AFM 101st Convention Highlights

From June 16-20,
the AFM 101st Convention took place at the Westgate Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From pre-convention regional meetings to the swearing in of officers on the
final day, the proceedings ran smoothly and were a demonstration of solidarity.

“We reclaimed, as
we should at every convention, the meaning of unionism,” President Ray Hair
said in his concluding remarks on the convention’s last day.

The various
conference and association representatives—Theater Musicians Association (TMA)
President Anthony D’Amico, Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM)
President Robert Fraser, Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA)
President John Michael Smith, Recording Musicians Association (RMA) President
Marc Sazer, and International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians
(ICSOM) Chairperson Meredith Snow—addressed the delegates.

Among the topics
discussed by delegates were recommendations and resolutions for proposed
changes to AFM Bylaws to help the AFM better serve the needs of modern
musicians. A total of 13 specially focused committees of delegates and AFM
staff met to discuss and debate focused topics, concerns, and resolutions
relating to law, finance, credentials, measures and benefits, organization and
legislation, International Musician, public relations, TEMPO, small locals,
election, good and welfare, diversity, and organizing.

Other convention highlights included presentations on successful organizing campaigns from members of the Dallas-Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, a presentation on the power of union influence in fighting for fair pay by guitarist Jim Suhler, and much discussion on the AFM Pension Fund. And, of course, there were four days filled with great music by Federation musicians.

The talk of the convention was the management lockout of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) musicians, which occurred just days before the convention started. Delegates, locals, players associations, and regional symphony orchestras showed their support for their brothers and sisters in Baltimore by pledging nearly $100,000 in donations to the BSO musicians and to Baltimore Local 40-543.

A moving memorial
service, held on the second day, honored AFM members and staff who have passed
away since the last AFM Convention in 2016.

In the triennial Federation election, all of the international officers were reelected without opposition: President Ray Hair, Vice President Bruce Fife, Vice President from Canada Alan Willaert, and Secretary-Treasurer Jay Blumenthal. Joe Parente stepped down as an International Executive Board member and Ed Malaga, president of Local 161-710 (Washington, DC) was elected to Parente’s seat.

At 6:59 pm Monday evening, September 9, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) management issued a “take it or leave it” offer to the BSO Musicians which will be presented to the orchestra for a vote this evening, September 10. The proposal contained wage and benefit cuts of 20%. The federal mediators proposed an extension of negotiations […]